Cranberry harvesting apparatus

ABSTRACT

A self-propelled vehicle having a pair of driven front wheels and a single free rotating pivotal rear wheel mounted on a generally triangular chassis. A motor mounted on the chassis adapted to drive the front wheels and a cranberry harvesting reel mounted on the front portion of the chassis. Separate drive trains running from the motor to each wheel, each drive train including a two-way clutch such that each wheel may be driven forwardly, rearwardly or completely disengaged from the motor for free rotation. An operator&#39;&#39;s platform mounted on the chassis adjacent control means for the two-way clutches.

United States Patent Furford [4 1 June 27, 1972 s41 CRANBERRY HARVESTING1,270,480 6/1918 McCloskey ..180/6.2 x APPARATUS 2,677,225 5/1954 Ommodt..56/192 X [72] Inventor: Julius M. Furford, Route 1, R0. Box 442,Primary Examiner LouiS Mancene Grayland wash 98547 Assistant Examiner-J.N. Eskovitz [22] Filed: July 9, 1970 Att0rney-Graybea1, Cole & Barnard Aself-propelled vehicle having a pair of driven front wheels [52] U.S.Cl..56l330,56/11.8 and a Single free rotating pivotal rear wheel mountedon a 45208 generally triangular chassis. A motor mounted on the chassis[5 1 e o m l adapted to drive the front wheels and a cranberryharvesting l I reel mounted on the front portion of the chassis.Separate R f Cited drive trains running from the motor to each wheel,each drive 1 e train including a two-way clutch such that each wheel maybe UNITED STATES PATENTS driven forwardly, rearwardly or completelydisengaged from the motor for free rotation. An operators platformmounted 1,368,795 2/1921 Groce ..l80/6.2 on the chassis adjacent Conn-0|means f the twoway 2,524,631 10/ 1950 Minutillo. .....56/330 clutches,2,192,468 3/1940 Gore ..56/11.3 2,554,195 5/1951 .lones ..56/14.4 Xl1Claims,3DrawingFigures PATENTEUJUNZ? 1972 3,572,140

sum 10F 3 INVENTOR. JULIUS M. FUR FORD I BYgaWM ATTORNEYS PKTENTEDJUHZTm2 3.672.140 SHEET 30F 3 INVENTOR. JULIUS M. FURFORD A T TORNE YSCRANBERRY HARVESTING APPARATUS BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field ofthe Invention The present invention relates, in general, to wet bogcranberry harvesting apparatus, and in particular, to a selfpropelledoperator carrying vehicle having a unique drive and steering systemparticularly suited for use in flooded cranberry bogs.

2. Description of the Prior Art Cranberries are grown in bogs havingrelatively flat bottom surfaces surrounded by dikes. During harvesting,these bogs may be flooded with between 4 inches and 4 feet of water tofacilitate picking. The cranberry vines are rooted in the bottom of thebog and generally form a tangle above and below the surface of thestanding water. The cranberries themselves are both above and below thestanding water and are buoyant.

Cranberry vines are fragile, while the cranberries themselves adherestrongly to the vines. A conventional technique for harvesting theberries is to vigorously agitate the vines to separate the berriestherefrom such that they float on the surface of the water in the bogwhere they may be easily collected, usually by corralling the berriesagainst the banks of the bog with the aid of boom sticks and conveyingthem from the bog to a transport vehicle on the bank. The agitation ofthe cranberry vines to remove the berries should not be so severe as todamage the vines themselves.

One harvesting technique includes mounting a so-called water reel forrotation on a hand tractor and driving it through the bog such that therotation of the water reel agitates the vines to separate the berriestherefrom. This technique necessitates the operators walking in theflooded bog behind the hand tractor to guide it. This is a tiring andrelatively unpleasant task, particularly in deep water. Changing thedirection of travel of this type hand tractor usually results inspinning at least one of the drive wheels on the bottom of the bog, orholding one of the drive wheels stationary on the bottom of the bogwhile the tractor is pivoted thereabout, thereby causing the bottom ofthe bog including the roots and stalks of the cranberry vines to be tornup.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention provides anoperator carrying, water reel type, cranberry harvesting vehicle whichis lightweight and thus may travel over the bottom of a cranberry bogwithout becoming mired in, or unduly deforming, the bottom of the bog.The vehicle includes a pair of drive wheels and a single free rotatingtrailing wheel. Separate drive trains are provided between the vehiclemotor and the driving wheels to supply power to either or both of thewheels. A two-way clutch is provided in each separate drive train, whichallows each wheel to be separately rotated in either a forward orreverse direction, or be completely disengaged from the motor for freerotation. The single rear wheel of the vehicle is mounted for freerotation and is castered such that it may pivot through 360. Separateclutch control means are located adjacent the operators platform on thevehicle and the speed and direction of the vehicle are controlled by theoperators manipulation of the clutch controls. An additional controlallows the water reel mounted on the front of the vehicle to be raisedor lowered during operation.

It is an object of the present invention, therefore, to provide acranberry harvesting vehicle of a type suitable for use in flooded bogs.

Another object is to provide a vehicle having a drive and steeringapparatus which minimizes damage to the vines.

Still another object is to provide a cranberry harvesting vehicle uponwhich the operator may ride.

One more object is to provide a cranberry harvesting vehicle adapted tocarry and drive a rotating water reel.

A more specific object is to provide a vehicle having a pair of frontdrive wheels connected to a motor by separate drive trains, cuclt drivetrain including a two-way clutch.

Other objects and advantages will be apparent from the followingdescription taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a perspective view of atypical cranberry harvesting apparatus made according to the presentinvention.

FIG. 2 is a top plan view of the cranberry harvesting apparatus of FIG.1.

FIG. 3 is a partial side elevation view 'of the, apparatus of FIG. 1,including the water reel shown in dotted line in the down position.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION Referring now to FIG. 1, acranberry harvesting apparatus 10 made according to the presentinvention is disclosed. Apparatus 10 includes a generally triangularchassis 12 having a pair of front wheels 14 and 16 and a rear wheel 18.Operators platform 20, including seat 22 mounted on upwardly extendingsupport 24, is disposed rearwardly on chassis 12, while drive motor 26is mounted forward of the operator's platform.

Referring also to FIGS. 2 and 3, it will be seen that motor 26 isadapted to drive wheel 14 through a drive train numbered generally 28,while wheel 16 is driven through a drive chain numbered generally 30.Drive trains 28 and 30 respectively include two-way clutch mechanisms 32and 34 through which wheels 14 and 16 may be driven in either theforward or reverse direction, or disengaged from the motor 26 such thatthey rotate freely on the bearinged shaft 36 and 38 on which they aremounted. Water reel 40 is mounted forwardly on chassis l2 and is adaptedto be rotated by motor 26 through a drive train numbered generally 42(FIG. 2).

Operators platform 20 may consist of a simple metal sheet welded orbolted to chassis 12. Seat support 24 is likewise welded or bolted tobrace 44 extending between the converging side portions of the generallytriangular chassis adjacent platform 20.

Chassis 12 includes upwardly curved rear portions 46 which converge toconnect with rear wheel support frame 48. Rectangular support frame 48includes bearings 50 through which pin 52 is disposed for free rotation.Pin 52 is fixedly connected to outwardly extending beam 54 which in turnis fixedly welded or bolted to downwardly depending shaft 56 having aconventional bearing and shaft wheel mount 58 on which tire 18 ismounted for free rotation. Wheel 18 pivots in response to thedirectional movement of front wheels 14 and 16.

As illustrated, motor 26 is a conventional gasoline powered internalcombustion engine, although other equivalent power sources may besubstituted therefor. Motor 26 includes a double V pulley 60 mounted onoutput shaft 62 which trains V belts 64. Belts 64 transfer therotational movement of drive pulley 60 to double V belt driven pulley 66which is fixedly mounted on shaft 68. Shaft 68 is connected at itsopposite ends to two-way clutches 32 and 34. Sprocket 70 is additionallyfixedly mounted on shaft 68 and acts as a takeoff for water reel drivetrain 42.

Two-way clutches 32 and 34 may be of the conventional disc or cone type,with the primary requirements being that output shafts 72 and 74 of theclutches may be rotatably driven in either direction or completelydisengaged from the motor to allow wheels 14 and 16 to rotate freely,i.e. without being affected by any degree of drive or drag from themotor. A clutch of the type disclosed in Sherman, US. Pat. No.2,734,605, has been found to be satisfactory for use on this apparatus,although it will be readily understood that other clutches functioningin a similar manner may be used with equal effect.

Shafts 72 and 74 respectively include sprockets 76 and 78 mounted ontheir outer ends. Cooperating chains 80 transmit rotational movement tosprockets 82 and 84 mounted on shafts 86 and 88 respectively. which arejournaled for rotation in bearings 90. Bearings 90 are mounted byconventional means such as bolts 92 to upper portion 94 of chassis 12.Upper portion 94 defines a substantially rectangular support frame abovethe lower V shaped support bars on which motor 26 and portions of drivetrains 28 and 30 are mounted.

Sprockets 96 and 98 are fixedly mounted on shafts 86 and 88 androtatably drive sprockets 100 and 102 through chains 104. Sprockets 100and 102 are mounted on shafts 36 and 38 on which wheels 14 and 16 areconventionally mounted.

Clutches 32 and 34 are controlled by the movement of levers 110 and 112respectively, which levers are disposed adjacent operators platform 20.Referring particularly to FIGS. 2 and 3, the linkage whereby clutch 32is controlled will be described, it being understood that the linkagebetween lever 112 and clutch 34 is identic. Lever 110 is connected nearits lower portion to substantially horizontal rod 1 14 which isconnected by means of a clevis joint 116 to pivotal L-shaped member 118.Member 118 pivots about bearing mount 120 and is conventionallyconnected to one end of L-shaped member 122, which is, in turn,connected at its opposite end to rotatable member 124 extendingoutwardly from clutch 32. Rotation member 124 controls the movement ofoutput shaft 72, including both its direction of rotation and whether itrotates at all.

When lever 110 is in the substantially vertical position illus trated inthe drawings, clutch 32 is in the neutral position and that portion ofdrive train 28 following clutch 32 is disconnected from motor 26.Pivoting the upper portion of lever 1 towards an operator seated on seat22, member 124 is rotated in a first direction which causes output shaft72 to rotate such that wheel 14 is driven in one direction. Pivoting ofthe upper portion of lever 110 away from the operator rotates member 124in a second direction opposite the first direction thereby adjustingclutch 32 such that output member 74 and wheel 14 rotate in a directionopposite that described above. Levers 110 and 112 operate independentlyof each other, and thus it will be readily understood that wheel 14 maybe driven in the forward direction, for example, while wheel 16 is beingdriven in the reverse direction, or vise versa, to cause vehicle 10 torotate in a circle having a diameter equal to the length of vehicle 10.

Referring particularly to FIG. 1, horizontal support 126 for clutches 32and 34 is shown mounted on upper frame portion 94 of chassis 12.Vertical supports 128 are spaced on member 126 to position the clutchessuch that shaft 68 extends between them.

Water reel 40 comprises a plurality of circular discs 130 spaced oncentrally disposed rotatable shaft 132. Reinforcing collars 134 andtransverse support braces 136 hold discs 130 such that they extendradially outward from shaft 132. Shaft 132 is mounted for rotation inbearings 138 which are bolted by conventional nuts and bolts 140 to sidepiece 142 of the pivotal water reel support frame. The water reelsupport frame additionally includes generally vertical members 144, topsupport 146 and spray shield 148 which extends downwardly and rearwardlyfrom top support 146 and has an arc approximately equal to one-fourththe circumference of discs 130.

As has been discussed in part above, water reel 40 is driven by motor 26through drive train 42 taking off from sprocket 70 on shaft 68. Chain150 connects driving sprocket 70 to driven sprocket 152 mounted on shaft154. Shaft 154 is in turn mounted for rotation in bearings 156 and 158mounted on frame portion 94. Sprocket 160 is coaxial with sprocket 152on shaft 154 and is adapted to transmit rotation to lower sprocket 162through chain 164. Sprocket 162 is fixedly mounted on shaft 166 which isadapted to rotate in bearings 168 and 170 disposed on side members 142of the water reel support frame. Shaft 166 additionally extends throughbearings 170 and 172 (FIG. 2) mounted on frame portion 94, such thatwater reel 40 may be pivoted therein to raise or lower the water reel aswill be discussed more completely hereafter. Shaft 166 additionallyincludes sprocket 174 mounted near one end which is adapted to drivesprocket 176 mounted on the end of water reel shaft 132 through chain178 interconnecting these sprockets. It will thus be seen, that rotationof sprocket 70 on shaft 68 causes water reel 40 to be rotated throughdrive train 42. Although not shown in the drawings, it is alsocontemplated that a clutch such as a model No. SP6-l" W/4l6 manufacturedby the K-M CLUTCH CO. may be additionally mounted on shaft 68 to allowthe flow of power through drive train 42 to be regulated.

Referring particularly to FIG. 3, the apparatus for raising or loweringwater reel 40 is disclosed. Lever 180 is provided adjacent theoperator's platform 20. Lever 180 is pivotal about pin 182 on supportframe 94. Linkage rod 184 is pivotally connected at one end to the lowerend of lever 180, while its other end is pivotally connected to linkagerod 186. Rod 186 is adapted to pivot about central pivot connection 188on frame portion 94. Linkage rod 190 interconnects rod 186 and rod 192by means of pivotal connections 194 and 196. Rod 192 is itself adaptedto pivot about connection 198 with support frame portion 94. It will bereadily understood that the pivotal connections between the linkage rodsand between the linkage rods support frame portion 94 may be formed byany conventional means such as nuts and bolts, rivets, or cotter pins.When lever is in the substantially upright position as shown in dottedline in FIG. 3, water reel 40 is lowered such that the water reel runsupon, or close to, the bottom of the bog. Pivoting lever 180 downwardly,as shown in FIG. 3, causes the interconnected linkage rods to move andpivot such that the top portion of member 192 is rotated in acounterclockwise direction about pivot 198. Screw eye 200 isconventionally bolted or welded to the top portion of rod 192 and isadapted to receive the central portion of cable 202 which runs betweenscrew eyes 204 on side members 142 of the water reel support frame. Thusit will be seen that the pivotal movement of rod 192 causes water reel40 to be raised as shown in FIG. 3. Partial pivoting of lever 180 allowswater reel 40 to be held at any desired intermediate level above thebottom of the bog.

Hook 206 is pivotally mounted near one end of linkage rod 190, and isadapted to engage bracket 208 mounted on beam 146 of the water reelsupport frame, to hold the water reel at an extreme raised position. Asdisclosed, the water reel is pivoted upwardly by hand to a point wherehook 206 engages bracket 208, but it is contemplated that obviousmodifications of the linkage system attached to lever 180 would allowthe water reel to be pivoted to the extreme raised position by actuationof lever 180.

In operation in a cranberry bog having between 4 and 25 inches ofstanding water, for example, a vehicle substantially as illustrated inthe drawings may be used to harvest cranberries in the following manner.Hook 206 is unhooked from bracket 208 with lever 180 in the downposition such that water reel 40 assumes substantially the positionshown in solid line in FIG. 3. Clutches 32 and 34 are moved to theneutral position by manipulation of levers and 1 12 and motor 26 isstarted. Levers 110 and 112 are then pivoted in the same direction suchthat clutches 32 and 34 transmit power to wheels 14 and 16 such that thevehicle moves into the cranberry bog. Once in the bog, lever is pivotedto the substantially upright position to lower water reel 40 such thatit rotates on the bottom of the bog. As the vehicle moves through thebog, water reel 40 agitates the cranberry vines causing the berries tobe detached therefrom whereupon they float to the surface of the bog.When the vehicle 10 reaches a bank of the cranberry bog, one of the twoway clutches 32 or 34 is pivoted such that the associated drive wheel 14of 16 rotates in the reverse direction thereby causing the vehicle topivot about in a circle having a diameter equal to the length of thewheels. Reversing the direction of the vehicle by driving wheels 14 and16 in opposite directions minimizes stress on the bottom of the bog andconsequent damage to the cranberry vines, in that the vehicle does notpivot about a fixed wheel. The return trip across the bog is made on aline adjacent that previously traveled, and by repetitive trips acrossthe bog the vehicle may be used to remove the cranberries from the vinesthroughout the bog.

While. a cranberry harvesting water reel has been shown mounted onvehicle in the accompanying drawings, it will be readily understood thatother attachments such as a reel mower, a sickle bar, a rotary mower ora fertilizer spreader may also be mounted thereon with slightmodification of drive train 42. These attachments enable the vehicle tobe used for a variety of jobs related to the raising of cranberries.

It is also contemplated that means may be provided for adjusting theheight of wheels 14, 16 or 18 with respect to chassis 12 to allow thevehicle to be used in cranberry bogs having water standing up to 4 feetin depth. Along this line it is contemplated that the wheels may bedisposed at different heights with respect to chassis 12 to allow theoperators platform to be held in a substantially horizontal positionwhile mowing the sloping sides of the banks of a cranberry bog.

The invention may be embodied in other specific forms without departingfrom the spirit or central characteristics thereof. The presentembodiments are therefore to be considered in all respect asillustrative and not restrictive, the scope of the invention beingindicated by the appended claims rather than by the foregoingdescription, and all changes which come within the meaning and range ofequivalency of the claims are therefore to be embraced therein.

I claim:

1. A self-propelled cranberry harvesting apparatus comprising agenerally triangular chassis having a pair of front wheels and a rearwheel; a motor mounted on said chassis, said motor adapted toselectively power said front wheels through a pair of drive trains, saiddrive trains each including a two-way clutch; an operator's platformmounted on said chassis; clutch control means adjacent said platformsuch that an operator mounted thereon may control said clutches toselectively transmit power from said motor to said front wheels to driveeach of said wheels in a forward or rearward direction; a cranberryharvesting reel mounted on said chassis, said reel adapted to be poweredby said motor, means on said chassis for adjusting the height of saidreel with respect to the bottom of the cranberry bog on which saidvehicle is driven, said reel comprising a plurality of circular discsmounted on a rotatable shaft, said discs being horizontally spaced andone of said discs being connected to its neighboring disc by only saidshaft and a plurality of support braces, said support braces and saidshaft being radially spaced thereby defining an open area bounded bysaid one disc, said neighboring disc, said shaft and a plurality of saidsupport braces.

2. A self-propelled cranberry harvesting apparatus comprising a chassis;a pair of wheels mounted for rotation near the front of said chassis; amotor mounted on said chassis; a pair of drive trains interconnectingsaid motor and said wheels adapted to transmit power from said motor torotate said wheels; a two-way clutch in each of said drive trainsadapted to selectively alter or interrupt the transmission of power fromsaid motor to each of said wheels to separately reverse the rotation ofeither or both of said wheels or disengage either of said wheels toallow it to rotate freely; a wheel mounted for rotation near the rear ofsaid chassis; an operators platform mounted on said chassis adjacentcontrol means for said clutches; and a cranberry harvesting reelrotatably mounted near the front of said chassis, said reel comprising aplurality of circular discs mounted on a rotatable shaft, said discsbeing horizontally spaced and one of said discs being connected to itsneighboring disc by only said shaft and a plurality of support braces,said support braces and said shaft being radially spaced therebydefining an open area bounded by said one disc, said neighboring disc,said shaft and a plurality of said support braces.

3. The self-propelled cranberry harvesting apparatus of claim 2 whereinsaid cranberry harvesting reel is rotatably driven through a drive trainby said motor.

4. The self-propelled cranberry harvesting apparatus of claim 3 whereinsaid clutches may be actuated such that each of said front wheels may bedriven simultaneously in either a forward or rearward directionindependent of each other.

5. The self-propelled cranberry harvesting apparatus of claim 3 whereinsaid cranberry harvesting reel is driven by said motor such that itrotates faster than said front wheels.

6. The self-propelled cranberry harvesting apparatus of claim 3 whereinsaid drive train includes a clutch for controlling the rotation of saidcranberry harvesting reel.

7. The self-propelled cranberry harvesting apparatus of claim 3including holding means for holding said reel in a raised positionduring travel when said reel is not in use.

8. A self-propelled cranberry harvesting apparatus comprising a chassishaving a pair of laterally spaced drive wheels mounted near one end anda circularly pivotal free rotating wheel mounted centrally near itsopposite end; a drive motor and an operators platform mounted on saidchassis; a pair of drive trains extending from said motor to said drivewheels and adapted to transmit rotational power from said engine to saiddrive wheels; a two-way clutch in each of said pair of drive trains toselectively alter or interrupt the transmission of rotational power fromsaid drive motor to said drive wheels such that both or only one of saiddrive wheels may be driven or such that said drive wheels may besimultaneously driven in opposite directions to cause said apparatus toreverse direction within a circle having a diameter equal to the lengthof said apparatus; control means for said two-way clutches positionedadjacent said operator's platform whereby an operator may control thedirection of travel of said apparatus through a cranberry bog; acranberry harvesting reel mounted for rotation on the front of saidchassis, said reel adapted to be driven by said drive motor on saidchassis, said reel comprising a plurality of circular discs mounted on arotatable shaft, said discs being horizontally spaced and one of saiddiscs being connected to its neighboring disc by only said shaft and aplurality of support braces, said support braces and said shaft beingradially spaced thereby defining an open area bounded by said one disc,said neighboring disc, said shaft, and a plurality of said supportbraces.

9. The self-propelled cranberry harvesting apparatus of claim 8including means mounted on said chassis for adjusting the height of saidcranberry harvesting reel above the bottom of a cranberry bog on whichsaid apparatus is driven.

10. The self-propelled cranberry harvesting apparatus of claim 9 whereinsaid means for adjusting the height of said cranberry harvesting reelabove the bottom of a cranberry bog includes a control. lever positionedadjacent said operators platform to allow the height of said reel to beadjusted while said apparatus is in operation harvesting cranberries.

11. The self-propelled cranberry harvesting apparatus of claim 8including a clutch between said drive motor and said cranberryharvesting reel adapted to control the rotation of said reel.

1. A self-propelled cranberry harvesting apparatus comprising agenerally triangular chassis having a pair of front wheels and a rearwheel; a motor mounted on said chassis, said motor adapted toselectively power said front wheels through a pair of drive trains, saiddrive trains each including a two-way clutch; an operator''s platformmounted on said chassis; clutch control means adjacent said platformsuch that an operator mounted thereon may control said clutches toselectively transmit power from said motor to said front wheels to driveeach of said wheels in a forward or rearward direction; a cranberryharvesting reel mounted on said chassis, said reel adapted to be poweredby said motor, means on said chassis for adjusting the height of saidreel with respect to the bottom of the cranberry bog oN which saidvehicle is driven, said reel comprising a plurality of circular discsmounted on a rotatable shaft, said discs being horizontally spaced andone of said discs being connected to its neighboring disc by only saidshaft and a plurality of support braces, said support braces and saidshaft being radially spaced thereby defining an open area bounded bysaid one disc, said neighboring disc, said shaft and a plurality of saidsupport braces.
 2. A self-propelled cranberry harvesting apparatuscomprising a chassis; a pair of wheels mounted for rotation near thefront of said chassis; a motor mounted on said chassis; a pair of drivetrains interconnecting said motor and said wheels adapted to transmitpower from said motor to rotate said wheels; a two-way clutch in each ofsaid drive trains adapted to selectively alter or interrupt thetransmission of power from said motor to each of said wheels toseparately reverse the rotation of either or both of said wheels ordisengage either of said wheels to allow it to rotate freely; a wheelmounted for rotation near the rear of said chassis; an operator''splatform mounted on said chassis adjacent control means for saidclutches; and a cranberry harvesting reel rotatably mounted near thefront of said chassis, said reel comprising a plurality of circulardiscs mounted on a rotatable shaft, said discs being horizontally spacedand one of said discs being connected to its neighboring disc by onlysaid shaft and a plurality of support braces, said support braces andsaid shaft being radially spaced thereby defining an open area boundedby said one disc, said neighboring disc, said shaft and a plurality ofsaid support braces.
 3. The self-propelled cranberry harvestingapparatus of claim 2 wherein said cranberry harvesting reel is rotatablydriven through a drive train by said motor.
 4. The self-propelledcranberry harvesting apparatus of claim 3 wherein said clutches may beactuated such that each of said front wheels may be drivensimultaneously in either a forward or rearward direction independent ofeach other.
 5. The self-propelled cranberry harvesting apparatus ofclaim 3 wherein said cranberry harvesting reel is driven by said motorsuch that it rotates faster than said front wheels.
 6. Theself-propelled cranberry harvesting apparatus of claim 3 wherein saiddrive train includes a clutch for controlling the rotation of saidcranberry harvesting reel.
 7. The self-propelled cranberry harvestingapparatus of claim 3 including holding means for holding said reel in araised position during travel when said reel is not in use.
 8. Aself-propelled cranberry harvesting apparatus comprising a chassishaving a pair of laterally spaced drive wheels mounted near one end anda circularly pivotal free rotating wheel mounted centrally near itsopposite end; a drive motor and an operator''s platform mounted on saidchassis; a pair of drive trains extending from said motor to said drivewheels and adapted to transmit rotational power from said engine to saiddrive wheels; a two-way clutch in each of said pair of drive trains toselectively alter or interrupt the transmission of rotational power fromsaid drive motor to said drive wheels such that both or only one of saiddrive wheels may be driven or such that said drive wheels may besimultaneously driven in opposite directions to cause said apparatus toreverse direction within a circle having a diameter equal to the lengthof said apparatus; control means for said two-way clutches positionedadjacent said operator''s platform whereby an operator may control thedirection of travel of said apparatus through a cranberry bog; acranberry harvesting reel mounted for rotation on the front of saidchassis, said reel adapted to be driven by said drive motor on saidchassis, said reel comprising a plurality of circular discs mounted on arotatable shaft, said discs being horizontally spaced and one of saiddiscs being connected to its neighboring disc by only said shaft and Aplurality of support braces, said support braces and said shaft beingradially spaced thereby defining an open area bounded by said one disc,said neighboring disc, said shaft, and a plurality of said supportbraces.
 9. The self-propelled cranberry harvesting apparatus of claim 8including means mounted on said chassis for adjusting the height of saidcranberry harvesting reel above the bottom of a cranberry bog on whichsaid apparatus is driven.
 10. The self-propelled cranberry harvestingapparatus of claim 9 wherein said means for adjusting the height of saidcranberry harvesting reel above the bottom of a cranberry bog includes acontrol lever positioned adjacent said operator''s platform to allow theheight of said reel to be adjusted while said apparatus is in operationharvesting cranberries.
 11. The self-propelled cranberry harvestingapparatus of claim 8 including a clutch between said drive motor andsaid cranberry harvesting reel adapted to control the rotation of saidreel.